This feature has been available since last year and it's a simple way to send free SMS, without using sites that require registration.

To find out more about this, including some of the privacy issues, read the FAQ.

Update: In July 2008, the service has been retired and it's no longer available in Google Toolbar or as a separate extension. There are many other services that let you send free SMS, including Gizmo SMS, Text4Free and TxtDrop.

The prompt on the site says "Your Carrier" but I assume it means the carrier you are sending to. If so that's a pain because you need to know your friend's carrier. Would be much nicer if this could be computed from the phone number somehow.

When you make a voice call you don't need to know what carrier somebody is on!

True, but Google created this service for one specific reason: so you can send snippets from web pages to YOUR mobile phone.

Here's their answer:

"Why do I have to choose a carrier? I don't know my friend's carrier.

For technical reasons, in order to be able to properly route text messages to any given phone, we need to know which company provides service to that phone. Since you presumably know your own carrier, you can always send messages to yourself. To send messages to a friend, though, you'll have to know which carrier he or she uses."

For some reson I cant access the "sms send page" saved as a favorite or simply type in the URL, "http://www.google.com/sendtophone", to that page. I have to save this page as a favorite and then click the link "Google Send to Phone.".

i hate CAPTCHA!!!! oh and yah i thought no matter what the U.S gets charged with text messages. they can do it for free though from the computer on peekamo, but they get charged no matter whwat when they receive them.

In order to figure out a person's carrier, go to www.whitepages.com. You can do a reverse phone number lookup. For cell phones, it will not say any personal information, but it will tell you the carrier. :)

I live in the foothills near Mariposa, california. My husband works in Merced. We have cell phones but no signal where we live in Mount bullion, this is with the carrier AT&T.... and when I am at home, I have to use our land line to contact my husband on his cell phone. This means a charge call for us. Now, I can text him using our computer. ( and yes, we are still on dial up here.) Thank you for another way to use the computer to our advantage.

for those of you that dont know ..aim can too and you can receive back without limits yhoo limits the # you send if the other person doesnt reply but for a good reason- so ppl dont abuse it and spam othjers

I have a couple questions if anyone is willing to answer,- why do you have to choose your carrier with Google? when programs like teleflip can do it for you? and apparently yahoo also according to this thread. - main issue for me being i live in Australia, any suggestions there as I cant even find my carries email domain 1234567890@someozzycarrier.com ?

you can do it in AIM also. just add a + in front of the number into the buddy list. for example go to add buddy type in +1234567890 and it will add a buddy that is always signed in and no need to tell them carrier information. it works with every cell phone. i use it all the time. much easier then going to a website if u already have aim up and running.. just a thought. bigupdub.com

You also need to decide the carrier that is getting the message because I, on verizon, can send over 240 characters as one message, but on Tracfone, I'm limited to much less. If Verizon sends 240 characters to my Tracfone, I get only the first part of the message and NOTHING after that. GS2P warns you about this, if you let it.

This is what i get when i click on the Google send to phone link!!! ..........."We're sorry, but Send to SMS has been retired. You can continue to share web pages via email or blog using Send to Gmail or Send to Blogger"...........

hello,I found and tried this free unlimited sms to all network website. You can send unlimited texts to all Philippine subscribers.We can also meet new friends and txtmates through discussion and chat.